Showing posts with label Luskwood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Luskwood. Show all posts

Friday, September 12, 2025

Update on Luskwood

 
Earlier, the Newser reported that the Luskwood Big Tree was empty, which was a big contrast in the past to some people always being around. As it turns out, there still are several people of the Luskwood community always on. They're just not always at the tree.
 
There's a small piece of beach property not too far from Lusk, and lately people from the community have been gathering there to relax for a change of scenery. 
 
So all is still relatively well with Second Life's oldest active community, and it is hoped once the real lives of the founders settle down, the builders can get back to the long-delayed updating of their line of avatars. 
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Back At Luskwood, But Where Is Everyone?

 

 It's been a while since I was last at Luskwood, my first hangout. I hadn't heard of anything new for a while. Then someone told me when they were last there, the place was empty. So I went to the big tree to check it out, around 4PM SL time, and aside from a bot, it was. 
 
The place wasn't really empty. People had been putting things up, including autumn leaves, pathways leading to places, a ramen cart, plenty of plants, and more decorations. Just none of the small crowd that was always there in the past. I did see an announcement of events at the H-Bomb club, a venue some of the Luskwood regulars have gone to. 
 
I did end up talking with Michi Lumnin the other day. She had told me she and the other founders were more busy than ever in real life. Hopefully this will change soon, she commented, and eventually get back to organizing things, and eventually new avatars.
 
Luskwood is Second Life's oldest known community which is still around, as well as the oldest line of furry avatars. 
 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lusk/217/168/62
 
Bixyl Shuftan 
 

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Classic SLN Cartoons: Mice in Black

 
 

 From Sept 2008. The MiB is Anne Droid Lilly, who was a regular around Luskwood at the time. I would see her time to time, then one day she stopped coming. Sadly I recently learned why. I learned today that it's believed she passed away in 2012.
 
Link by Zorrin Froboz 
 
Cartoon by Bixyl Shuftan
 

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

A Personal Change: Updating My Avatar

  

For years, my everyday appearance in Second Life was identifiable by two things. One was my fedora and overcoat. The other was my Luskwood red fox avatar. For over thirteen years despite numerous changes in Second Life, while I would occasionally change briefly for themed parties and holidays, I continued to use it as my main look. More than a few kept asking me to change, and I kept answering not until I found a look that looked right. But a few months ago, I finally found one that just might work.
 
Read more in Design.
 

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Luskwood Anniversary Tribute At The Happy Vixen

 


On Sunday October 25, the Happy Vixen held a special event at it's Halloween Haunt. It was the Luskwood Tribute party. For those who don't know, Luskwood is the first and longest lasting furry community in Second Life, possibly the oldest that is still going. For years, it held annual anniversary events. But the one in 2017 was the last they held. Since then, they've had to postpone then cancel the events. In 2018, the staff of the Happy Vixen offered to host a tribute to them to celebrate their turning fifteen. This year, the club decided to hold another.

Tonight we are celebrating Luskwood's 17th Anniversary! All of Luskwood's avatars and clothing from years past are in theme. Come on up to our Special Events Club and party with us for the next three hours with our wonderful DJ Snowbuns!


From 3-6PM SL time, besides people from the beach club, a number of people from Luskwood were also there. There was Ardy Lay, Saunder Hand, and others. And of course Luskwood founder Michi Lumin. There were also a couple ponies from Trotsdale, which Luskwood has a close relationship. And there was Prof. Grey (BrianL61 Landar) of Arcadia Asylum.

For three hours, DJ Snowbuns played music for the crowd. Close to thirty people showed up for the event. The normally 250L prize for the contest was boosted to 2000L by a generous donor. It was split at the end of the event by Go Fish (Swiftkill Resident) and Fortunas Sands.

Luskwood will likely have something special for Halloween. It's not a sure thing with real life butting into peoples' plans. But a way to celebrate their anniversary had been found.

Bixyl Shuftan

Monday, July 27, 2020

Luskwood Goes Wonderland



Luskwood has gone down the rabbit hole, so to speak.


Heading over to the Lusk sim, I found Luskwood's "Big Tree" had been decked out in the style of "Alice in Wonderland." There were playing card guards. There were books all over the place, including
a couple arches made out of them. There were large roses in places. There was a tea cup with hot tea the size of a hot tub. And there was a tea party setting, with table and chairs and teapots and goodies.

Besides the Wonderland-themed decorations, there are others. In the posters, some were old ones from events long ago, though there was one advertising the SLPonycon in June. There was also a picture poking playful fun at one of the Luskwood founders. And as always, there are the avatar vendors inside the tree, and the games in the back.

It's unknown how long this new look will be up for. Possibly for another month. But for fans of Luskwood whom are interested in seeing what's new, it's a good time to drop by and have a look.

Luskwood is Second Life's oldest furry community, and possibly the oldest one that's still around.

Hat tip: Spooked Dreamscape

Bixyl Shuftan

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Luskwood Founder Michi Lumin Dealing With Impostor


Michi Lumin, one of the founders of Luskwood, Second Life's oldest active community, has a problem. Someone has been trying to fool others into thinking it's her.

Someone impersonating me on Discord and Twitch - maybe elsewhere There’s a “Michi Lumin #5428” on Discord and a twitch.tv/michi_lumin/ - out there… Neither of these people are me.

They are using my icons and images. It seems there’s nothing I can do about it but make people aware..

I have absolutely no clue whatsoever why someone would pretend to be me - complete with persona and everything, but it's happening and, I have no clue whatsoever what their intention is, but Discord and Twitch certainly won't do anything about it.


Hopefully the spoofer will soon be stopped.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

The End Of The Ice Cream At Luskwood



Since late August, the "Big Tree" at Luskwood had a dark dysutopian look, with toxic-looking water, grafitti, propaganda from a "Council" with leaflets proclaiming "rebellion" occasionally plastered on them, and a suspicious-looking ice-cream factory. There would be two more bulletins from the Council, one resembling L Ron Hubbard's Sea Organization advertisements, the other looking like Soviet propaganda.

On Saturday October 26 at 8PM SL time was a "Victory Day" party. As no one from the Newser was there, and there are no known pictures of the event, all that there is to go on what happened are the scenes of wreckage at the Big Tree, with clean water flowing this time, and eyewitness reports. There are multiple reports of a giant crab having wrecked the place, although one man claiming to be with the rebellion was saying he had a hand in the ice cream factory exploding, claiming that the substance was flammable. There was no sign of the crab, other than a much smaller one skittering around.

And the "Council?" Reports on what happened to them vary, from getting killed at the event to hospitalized. but it appears their rein over the oldest active community in Second Life is now over.

Note: There was no actual griefing. This was part of a plotline by the residents of Luskwood.

Bixyl Shuftan

Monday, October 14, 2019

Luskwood Update: Ice Cream and Obedience



As Luskwood moves closer to it's sixteenth anniversary, the place still has the dystopian look that it's had since August, including proclamations from a "Council" and declarations of rebellion. Since then, this Council has continued to issue proclamations calling for it's residents to "eat the ice cream" for "a bright and happy future. One issued in mid-September looked like it was taken from L. Ron Hubbard's Sea Organization.

More recently was another one of a furry in a factory worker's outfit with a red banner in one hand and an ice cream cone in another, "Secure Our Future: Only Through Obedience Will We Prevail." It seems that the Council is taking cues from Soviet propaganda posters.

As Luskwood heads to the second half of October, there are unconfirmed reports that there will be an anniversary event of some kind. Hopefully by then, people will be talking more about cake and less about Halo Top ice cream.

Bixyl Shuftan

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Luskwood Council Bulliten



Late last month, things at Luskwood were getting a little strange as the place took on a bit of a distopian look and posters proclaiming rebellion against the "Council". Michi Lumin, one of the founders of the community, recently sent the Newser a copy of a poster just released by the Council.

We all want a bright and happy future. But the threat of darkness and sadness is ever present. What if you could help? What if you could help simply by eating the ice cream? You like ice cream. Join the Council and get free ice cream for an eternity. 

If the sun does finally rise again on our noble tree, what will you say when they ask this question? "Did you help?"


One wonders, just how bad can eating the ice cream be? No word on whether or not the ice cream at Luskwood is from Halo Top. 

Bixyl Shuftan

Sunday, September 1, 2019

What's in The Water at Luskwood?



Occasionally, the "Big Tree" at Luskwood gets a new look for a few weeks, such as the time it went Egyptian. But I received a tip from Spooked Dreamscape that their latest theme was a rather uncheerful one. Heading over, much of the place had a dim, gritty, industrial look, with water that was green with some unknown chemical, looking a bit toxic, and something stretching tentacles out of it. The evening sky contributed to the dark image of the location.

I noticed a sign in a few places, saying something about water purification and industrial runoff. But it was obscured by another proclaiming "Rebellion," saying that the water was unsafe to drink and asking the residents to unite against the "Council." On the bottom was the Lusk symbol with closed eyes and an "X" where the mouth would be.

It's unknown how long this dark and gritty display will be up. With Luskwood's anniversary in about a month and a half, presumably it will be taken down by then.

Founded just a few months after Second Life's official opening, Luskwood is considered the oldest active community in Second Life

Bixyl Shuftan

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Seeing Double?



Taken at the Virtual Ability conference yesterday. Nope, this isn't some fancy computer editing. Erik Mondrian is one of the handful of others who wears the same type of avatar as me, a red Luskwood fox, for their main appearance.

It's about twelve years since I got the avie, but it still has it's fans. 

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Announcement: Limerick Contest Results


The Limerick contest went well and I am pleased that there were so many submissions. Each participant will receive 25L dispersed from my alt Kirsty (Hanaarashi Resident). The winner will receive an extra dispersal of  1500L as the prize pot was increased over the term of the contest by donations sent to the prize pool.

=Limerick Contest Participants=
Max (Fluffyquokka)
NightTrotter
Flutters (Derpyhoofesy)
Bixyl Shuftan
Zayfod
Rainbowdashsw

=Winner=
NightTrotter

The submissions will all be read on Amehana's stream for the library Sunday during the 6 PM Pacific Story Hour. It will also be available on Youtube starting March 24 at 11AM.

Library stream #2: http://us2.ishout.net:8403/
Youtube video: https://youtu.be/9valPiX4PXQ

I have not yet chosen the next writing or art contest for the library. Illya Leonov (Morgan Freepony) is currently running his own costume contest for the library for the Thursday music/story sessions. His contest spans 21 sessions in the library, more on the Newser at (http://slnewser.blogspot.com/2019/03/announcement-library-costume-contest.html) , or the forum thread (http://intersimlibrary.freeforums.net/thread/70/past-sins-fanfiction-costume-contest).

~Amehana Arashi

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Luskwood Goes Medieval



Dropping by Luskwood yesterday, it looked like the place had turned into a Renaissance fair.


There were tends and pennants in Medieval design, stalls with food that looked like they could have come from a town of the era. And even a few whose outfits matched the theme.


How long the "Big Tree" will be "Going Medieval?" Time will tell.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lusk/218/167/62

Hat tip: Spooked Dreamscape

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Announcement: Early Spring Library Limerick Contest


This time in the usual Valentine slot of events we are looking for limericks here in the library. All submissions will be recorded for the video archive and to play over the library stream.

Early Spring Library Limerick Contest
Open: Now
Deadline Midnight SLT Mar 18, 2019

=Suggested theme: "Anything"=
Although this is the time I usually look for Valentine-ish, friendshippy, and Irish sorts of stuff there is no theme this year. Let your imagination soar. Send in your best limericks of any sort as long as it is PG-13 or lower in rating. Best one takes the prize!

=How Do We Limerick?=
According to wikipedia:
A limerick is a form of verse, usually humorous and frequently rude, in five-line, predominantly anapestic[1] meter with a strict rhyme scheme of AABBA, in which the first, second and fifth line rhyme, while the third and fourth lines are shorter and share a different rhyme.[2] The following example is a limerick of unknown origin:

The limerick packs laughs anatomical
Into space that is quite economical.
But the good ones I've seen
So seldom are clean
And the clean ones so seldom are comical.[3]

Do your best! It's ok if it doesn't quiiiite fit the usual meter.

=Prize=
Staring Prize 1000$L. This may increase if donations are sent into the prizebank.
Each entrant will also receive 25$L for their trouble, one payment per entrant. In the future this may go up, but for now it is a minimum of this.

All submissions will be archived with the Trotsdale Library and Intersim Library Network. Text will be read and recorded for video and sound archive. Images will be incorporated into video archival as well. Winners will be announced late March. If no one enters then the prize money in the prize pool will roll over to the next contest.

Prize money will be disbursed from Hanaarashi Resident, an alt controlled by Amehana Ishtari (Arashi).

Donations to the prize pool can be sent to Hanaarashi Resident or sent via one of the prizepool book piles.

Merchandise or service prize donations please message Amehana Ishtari with a notecard stating what your donation will be and what you would like to see it go out as prize for.

=Submitting=
There are several ways to enter:
* Use the forum archival thread and post your entry below the first message. Paste your writing into the full reply box, or if an art piece you can upload and link to it, or attach to the post.
* Place your entry into a notecard and drop it into one of the listed drop boxes. For other contests: if you are submitting visual art for the contest inworld you will need to upload the image and then place this in a notecard if presenting via SL or into your forum post. You can also present both together if you note that you are doing an illustrated writing piece. If you can't afford to upload to SL then upload to your host of choice and paste the link into the card or into for forum submission.

Use the enclosed template(s) to help make sure that your entry is well marked after renaming to include your legacy name.
* Each entrant can send in up to three (3) limericks.

 * * *
Card name: (Your Legacy Name): Limerick 2019 Entry

Please ensure your entry is set as transfer, mod, and copy (full perms).

Display Name:
Legacy Name:
Preferred Pen Name:
Title:

=Written Works=
Put your limerick(s) below here:

=Written Works=
Put your limerick(s) below here:


* * * * *

=Submission Locations=
Last time there were boxes out in 6 communities but most were not used. In order to simplify for pickup there will be fewer inworld locations this time in addition to forum entries. You do not have to put your submission in them all, these are provided for convenience. Please do not send directly to Amehana.
forum: intersimlibrary.freeforums.net/thread/69/early-spring-limerick-contest-2019

Inworld:
1. Trotsdale: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Trotsdale/22/156/25
2. Nisa/Ibexia maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ontario/211/11/63
3. Luskwood: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lusk/216/169/62
4. Neighberry: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Neighberry/47/76/22
5. Neighberry #2:http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Neighberry/130/84/23

~Amehana Ishtari (Arashi), Trotsdale Library Curator
Library Forum: http://intersimlibrary.freeforums.net
Library Website: http://intersimlibraryresources.weebly.com
Youtube Channel archival: http://www.youtube.com/Amehana

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

The Luskwood Tribute Party


If another community you admire isn't able to organize a key anniversary event, what do you do? The Luskwood community, the oldest in Second Life, turned fifteen this fall, but it's founders couldn't hold a grand anniversary event. For the the Happy Vixen, the beach club of the Sunweaver/Angels community, the answer to the problem was to hold a tribute party. The party was a big success, with a number from Luskwood dropping by. To everyone's surprise, so did one of the Lindens.

Read the story in Events.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Luskwood Turns Fifteen, Tribute Parties Today and Tomorrow



Luskwood reached a milestone this fall. The community, the oldest in Second Life turned fifteen years old. They usually celebrate birthdays with large weekend events, in the past few years held jointly with the Trotsdale community of which the two communities hold close ties, the last one held in October last year.

But this year they haven't been been able to organize one of their LWB events. So the Happy Vixen club in Purrfection Estates will be having tributes to both Trotsdale and Luskwood this week. The Trotsdale Tribute is today at 2PM SL time. The Luskwood Tribute will be tomorrow, Thursday November 29, at 8PM SL time.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Purrfection%20Estates/236/219/24

Announcement: Winter 2018 Library Network Contest


The fall season is ended, and the Thanksgiving submissions close on November 30. This means that we also need to start looking toward the next writing event with the Trotsdale Library and Intersim Library Network.

Winter 2018 Library Art and Writing Contests
Open: Now
Deadline Jan 1, 2019

=Suggested theme: "Traditions"=
An entry does not have to strictly stick to the set theme. However it will have more impact if it does. An alternate is also creating your own fable, myth, or tradition.

-Writing Division:-
Write a short poem, essay, or story about your favorite Tradition. It can be from any season throughout the year that is most special to you. Or you can tell me what a tradition is to you, perhaps it doesn't match what someone else thinks of as a tradition. It can even be a personal tradition.

Entries will be judged on grammar, spelling, content, and flow. Consideration will be taken in regards to effort, especially if it is known an entrant is not fluent in or is still learning English. Submissions should be in English. Please try to keep at PG/PG-13 or lower. Submissions rated higher than such will be ineligible.

Prize 500$L

-Art Division:-
Using your favorite medium try to capture the essence of "tradition." If it is non-digital work then either scan or snap a photo of your piece. If presenting an inworld build as your art please send a picture. You can also use SL photography as your artistic outlet. It is suggested that you also write a short piece on what you intend to be conveyed.

Judging will be based on style, apparent capability, evoked feelings and ideas, and how well the artist conveys what they state they intend to convey in their piece. Please try to keep at PG/PG-13 or lower. Submissions rated higher than such will be ineligible.

Prize 500$L

All submissions will be archived with the Trotsdale Library and Intersim Library Network. Text will be read and recorded for video and sound archive. Images will be incorporated into video archival as well. Winners will be announced mid January. If no one enters then the prize money in the prize pool will roll over to the next contest. Prize money will be disbursed from Hanaarashi Resident.

The Thanksgiving contest was a fixed amount prize event. The Winter "Holiday's" Contest is a baseline amount contest. Donations to the prize pool can be sent to Hanaarashi Resident or sent via one of the prizepool book piles. Merchandise or service prize donations please message Amehana Ishtari with a notecard stating what your donation will be and what you would like to see it go out as prize for.

=Submitting=
There are several ways to enter:

* Use the forum archival thread and post your entry below the first message. Paste your writing into the full reply box, or if an art piece you can upload and link to it, or attach to the post.

* Place your entry into a notecard and drop it into one of the listed drop boxes. If you are submitting visual art for the contest inworld you will need to upload the image and then place this in a notecard. You can also present both together if you note that you are doing an illustrated writing piece.

Use the following template to help make sure that your entry is well marked after renaming to include your legacy name.

* * * * *

Card name: (Your Legacy Name): Thanksgiving 2018 Template

Display Name:
Legacy Name:
Preferred Pen Name:
Title:

Put your story below here:

* * * * *

=Submission Locations=
forum: http://intersimlibrary.freeforums.net/thread/62/winter-2018-art-writing-contest
Inworld:
1. Trotsdale Library , Trotsdale (22/156/25)
2. Ibexian Palace/Library , Dreaming Twilight, Ontario (211/11/63)
3. Arashiryuu Productions , Saddlewood (208/120/22)
4. Luskwood Social Platform , Lusk (216/169/62)
5. Derbyland Square , Derpyland (76/220/22)
6. The ASA, Sapienta Concha Library , Star City (155/226/63) (Star City is group locked still, inquire with DanielDerv or any Astrid Sector Alpha member to learn more)

~Amehana Ishtari (Arashi), Trotsdale Library Curator
Library Forum: http://intersimlibrary.freeforums.net
Library Website: http://intersimlibraryresources.weebly.com
Youtube Channel archival: http://www.youtube.com/Amehana

Contest Sponsor: THG StarDragon Publishing

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Announcement: Thanksgiving Writing Contest


Write a story about what Thanksgiving means to you. It would be about the historical based thanksgiving or the actual act of giving thanks. Show me in your story what it's all about to you!

Deadline: November 30 2018
Word count: Less than 2,000 (firm)

I will endeavor to announce winners by Dec 7 2018. Hopefully nothing happens to slow looking over the entries.

This time there will be only 1 winner, so I am sorry that there will not be time to do both Judge's Choice and People's Choice.

Please use the following template on your card and remember to name it before you place it in the dropbox at one of the below sites or by posting it as a reply to this thread!

* * * * *

Card name: (Your Legacy Name): Thanksgiving 2018 Template

Display Name:
Legacy Name:
Preferred Pen Name:
Title:

Put your story below here:

* * * * *

Alphabetical Locations
* Forum: http://intersimlibrary.freeforums.net/thread/59/thanksgiving-2018-writing-contest
* Dreaming Twilight Library (Nisa and Ibexia) - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ontario/211/11/63
* Luskwood Social Platform - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lusk/216/169/62
* Saddlewood: - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Saddlewood/208/120/22
* Star City and Astral Sector Alpha - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Star%20City/155/226/63
* Trotsdale - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Trotsdale/22/156/25

Prize:
500$L

All entries will go into the library archives. Additionally they will be read for the library program and streamed, as well as being archived onto my Youtube channel in the library playlist.

~Amehana Arashi (Ishtari)

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Announcement: Winners of the Luskwood/Trotsdale/Derpyland Birthday Contest


Congratulations to the winners of the "What Luskwood/Trotsdale/Derpland means to me" memories/birthday contest. Logging in I see 9,415L as the final amount to be divided between the winners. There were 7 winners/entrants so this gets divided 7 ways! Disbursement has gone out via "David Valnarius" (Midomaru Resident).

Each slot got 1345 disbursed

=Luskwood=
Jaycatt Nico, Zidaya Zenovka, Bigmoe Whitfield

=Trotsdale=
Zidaya Zenovka, NightTrotter, "Fluttershy" Earving1

=Derpyland=
"Dashy" Shippo849

DON'T FORGET THERE IS STILL THE HALLOWEEN SPOOKY STUFF WRITING CONTEST. Currently 1400L up for grabs.

Amehana Ishtari

Editor's Note: The Luskwood 15th Anniversary Party is still being planned, but no date has been set yet as far as we know.